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Okinawa City hotel launches international TV programming

As Okinawa Prefecture pushes to increase the number of visiting tourists, an Okinawa City hotel has taken a giant step forward, bringing international television programming to its rooms.

The Tokyo Daiichi Hotel has begun carrying real time satellite programming from China, Taiwan and Korea. The service began one week ago, with Okinawa City Mayor Mitsuo Tomon and the head of the Okinawa Kanko Convention Bureau, Tetsu Taira, leading VIP’s in the celebration. “We opened the hotel in 2006,” says hotel president Hiroshi Asou, “and 160,000 guests have stayed in our hotel while another 280,000 have eaten in our restaurants.”

Taira says foreigners “are increasing more and more, and our hotel is offering good care and service to our foreign customers.

Okinawa Prefecture lauded the satellite TV move, saying the action proves Okinawa is ready to serve more foreigners. Okinawa’s goal is luring 220,000 foreigners to the island this year. The Prefecture Tourism Planning Section reports 32,300 flocked to Okinawa in July, a 34.6% increase over 2007. The combination of regular air service from Hong Kong and cruise ships making their way to Naha Port is credited with the increase.